Match Report - Pools cruise past Walsall at the Vic
Goals from Tyler Burey and Nicky Featherstone saw Pools comfortably beat Walsall 2-0 at the Vic. Pools controlled the game from start to finish and will look to Saturday’s visit of Carlisle with optimism.
The first chance of the game fell Pools’ way as Tyler Burey took aim from 25 yards out. His shot was well-struck, but Rushworth gathered the ball well.
Next, Walsall had a chance of their own, but the shot was dragged wide of Killip’s left-hand post and the chance passed.
Much of the following 15 minutes was lost in the midfield before the opener came in spectacular circumstances. Tyler Burey robbed Menayese 30 yards from goal and drove in from the left before firing high into the net past a helpless Rushworth.
Walsall looked to hit back straight away but Ben Killip was in fine form to tip the ball over the bar. Menayese then went into the book for taking down Goodwin when the striker was looking to play in Burey.
Half-chances for Goodwin and Burey followed, but half-time came with Pools just one goal to the good.
Pools started the second half with the same energy that they’d controlled the first. Holohan, Goodwin, and Burey all went close after balls into the box from Sterry and Ferguson, while Shelton, Featherstone, and Holohan were seeing plenty of the ball in midfield.
The second goal of the game came in the simplest of circumstances. A handball in the box saw Pools awarded a penalty and Featherstone made no mistake from the spot. That’s seven out of seven scored from the spot since the midfielder took over penalty duties at the beginning of last season.
Goodwin, Ferguson, and substitute Molyneux were all denied after good chances, while Walsall had half-chances through Stephen Ward’s volley and Osadebe’s sliced shot.
At the death, substitute Reagan Ogle almost opened his account for Pools but his shot from Molyneux’s pull-back was well blocked.
Pools XI: Killip, Byrne, Liddle, Francis-Angol, Sterry, Shelton, Featherstone, Ferguson, Burey (Molyneux 72), Holohan, Goodwin (Ogle 88)